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Athletics fans have slammed World Athletics after double Olympics champion Beatrice Chebet was snubbed for the World Athlete of the Year despite having a better season than some finalists.
Athletics fans have reacted angrily following Beatrice Chebet’s omission from the World Athlete of the Year finalists despite having an impressive 2024 season.
World Athletics released the list of finalists in each of the three categories being contested and in the Female Athlete of the Year, it was St Lucia’s Julien Alfred and American Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone who made the cut.
Chebet, who was among the few athletes who claimed two gold medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics, having won both 5,000m and 10,000m, this coming after she had retained her World Cross-Country title as well as breaking the world record in 10,000m and also won the Diamond League title was among the big misses.
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19:00 - 04.11.2024
Faith Kipyegon snubbed as final list of nominees for 2024 World Athlete of the Year awards are announced
Faith Kipyegon will not be defending her Women's Track Athlete of the Year title despite shattering the 1500 meter World & Olympic record, as well as complete a hat-trick of Olympic gold medals in that event.
Fans on social media were disappointed that she was omitted from the list given of the two finalists, only Alfred featured in competitions beyond Olympics, having won World Indoor title as well the Diamond League crown, while Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the Olympics 400m hurdles champion and world record holder, did not run beyond the Paris Games.
“Beatrice Chebet has obviously taken up gymnastics or something this season because there’s no way she isn’t a finalist based on her season. World Cross Country Champion, 10,000m WR (28:54.14), 5000m Olympic Champion, 10,000m Olympic Champion and 5000m Diamond League Champion. Absolutely outrageous,” one fan posted on social media.
“It’s like the top school prize being given to the girl who was absent all year and turned up to sit the exams,” observed another fan.
“While these two women [Alfred and McLaughlin-Levrone] are great athletes for sure, I don’t feel like one Olympic performance constitutes athlete of the year,” another one said.
“Biases in track and field for sure. As a past sprinter, I am shocked Chebet isn't amongst the finalists. Shame,” said former Jamaican sprinter Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn.
“Beatrice Chebet has been robbed. There needs to be a better way of choosing the winner because this doesn’t make sense,” another fan replied. “It's so clear Chebet has been robbed.”
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14:45 - 03.11.2024
World Athlete of the Year: Faith Kipyegon, Beatrice Chebet & Gabby Thomas beaten in social media vote
Kenyans Faith Kipyegon, Beatrice Chebet and American Gabby Thomas did not come out on top in the social media vote for the World Athlete of the Year Award but who was the surprise winner?
Chebet started her season by bagging a second straight World Cross-Country title in Belgrade before she began her Diamond League season in Doha when she won the 5,000m before following it up with the world record in Eugene in what was Kenya's Olympics trials in the 10,000m.
Chebet lowered Letesenbet Gidey's 10,000m world record of 29:01.03, running a time of 28:54.14 to become the first woman to break the 29-minute barrier.
She would go on to win two Olympics gold medals (5,000m and 10,000m) in Paris before claiming her second Diamond League title after an impressive run at the season finale in Brussels.
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05:10 - 20.09.2024
World Athlete of the Year: Why Beatrice Chebet deserves it ahead of Gabby Thomas & Co
After the conclusion of the 2024 track and field campaign, attention will shift to end of season accolades and there are a number of reasons why Beatrice Chebet should be crowned.
During selection for the finalists, the World Athletics Council’s vote counted for 50 percent of the result, while the World Athletics Family’s votes and social media votes each counted for 25 percent of the result.
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